Bible stories, crafts and creative ideas for toddler groups, children's ministry and families
To make these pictures I started with a roll of paper from Ikea and drew a road. The buildings and trees were added. As you tell the story you can add all the things you need. The cloaks were cut from material, the donkey has pegs for legs.
The people were copied from this book Their God is so Big by Stephanie Carmichael. It’s on offer at the moment!
The donkey with pegs for legs would make a good craft. help yourself to the free printables.
Palm Sunday craft to make. A few ideas that are fun to make!
The story of Palm Sunday (or the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem) is from Luke 19, Mark 11, John 12 and Matthew 21. It is the beginning of the end of Jesus’ life on the earth.
In Mark’s gospel we read that, ‘they (Jesus and his disciples and followers) were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him saying, ‘See, we are going to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.’ Mark 10:32-34.
These must have been difficult things for Jesus to talk about. The disciples don’t appear to have really understood – James and John are bothered about where they will get to sit in heaven!
But despite the fact that Jesus knows he is going to Jerusalem to die he stops to help a man who is calling out to him. Bartimaeus is sitting by the roadside and shouting out for help. And Jesus stops and helps.
And then the group arrive at the outskirts of Jerusalem and Jesus sends two disciples to fetch a donkey. He rides into Jerusalem at a time when the place would have been packed with people there to celebrate Passover. They welcome him – laying clothes on the floor and waving palm branches calling Hosanna.
For young children it would be good to ask them to shout ‘Hosanna’ at the right time in the story and wave palm branches that they have made.
If you use a story bag include a toy/model donkey, a cloak to lay on the floor and a palm branch.
For older children make the connection with Old Testament prophecy as highlighted in Matthew’s account. It’s also useful for older children to have a timeline of the Easter events.
A short retelling of the storyÂ
A couple of palm leaf crafts – a sun catcher and a collage. Both use paper plates. The sun catcher is a little more tricky and has tacky back and glitter! The palm leaf collage can be cut out and a pipe cleaner attached so it can be waved during the story.
Older children could design a sun catcher and cut out the shape and attach the tacky back etc.
Large+Palm+Leaf – PDF file
Small+Palm+Leaf – PDF file – template for palm leaf sun catcher
A bobble hat and mittens craft to celebrate the cold, wintry weather. There are two free printables for you to use. I printed the outlines of the bobble hat and the mittens onto paper but you could use card if you like. If you are using Pritt Stick the paper will be fine but if using PVA thicker paper or card would be better. This is a great craft for using up scraps of collage materials. Let the children choose the textures and colours that they like.
You can also choose to use mainly yarn. I have lots of small bits of yarn that I keep from crochet projects so that will be on the craft table to choose from. It’s always useful to keep collage materials if you can or ask friends that crochet or knit to save the odd ends of wool/yarn.
You could also add large pompoms or cotton wool make up remover pads to add some pattern and extra texture.
Older children can have a go at making the mitten decoration symmetrical.
For younger children there lots of fine motor skill practice and learning the names of colours. Lot’s of opportunities to talk about the cold weather too!
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Mittens – free printable for mittens
Bobble_Hat – free printable for the bobble hat
Have a look at some winter inspired fake snow for sensory play here
I love playdough, especially the homemade variety. It’s relatively cheap and lasts a long time and gives hours of fun and creativity.
You can make characters from Bible stories with it, add it to laminated print outs, make shapes – anything. It’s great for young children to practice their fine motor skills and exercise their hand muscles ready for writing and drawing. It’s also good for keeping children focused on a sustained activity – they often willingly concentrate on playdough for quite a while.
The above playdough is a no cook recipe – it uses boiling water so has to be made by an adult.
Recipe
1 cup  flour
1/4 cup salt
1 teaspoon cream of tarter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (don’t use a nut oil in case children are allergic)
3/4 cup boiling water
Food colouring paste or ready mix water colour paint for colour
To make add all the dry ingredients to a mixer and then add the oil, boiling water and colouring and mix till a soft dough.
I tripled this amount to make the different colours in the picture.
I added some vanilla extract but I’m not sure it’s worth it – I think you would have to add a lot to really notice a vanilla scent and that would be quite expensive.
I had a play with the dough – a simple tree laminated – here’s a free tree PDF Tree I made an autumnal tree and an apple tree.
Just a few more days to enter our giveway!
In Matthew 7 we have recorded for us one of the stories that Jesus told. It is a very simple parable about house building. There was the wise man who built on the rock and the foolish man who built on the sand. The storm came and only one house remained – the house on the rock.
Jesus explains the story when he says ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.’ Matthew 7:24.
When telling the story to young children have some rocks and sand to show. They could also enjoy some sensory play with sand and pebbles and have a go at building with wooden blocks in a sand tray before or after the story time.
There is also a well known song with great actions that tells the story – have a listen here and a lego inspired retelling of the story here.
For a simple craft decorate/colour a house. There is space to write Matthew 7:24 or print on a label and stick in the space. Or download the PDF and add the verse before printing out. this is what i should have done as my writing isn’t very neat!
PDF of house for craft House (1)
The Bible Story illustrates that God is everywhere! He is the God that sees us. Do you ever feel overlooked or unnoticed? God sees us all of the time. He knows what is happening in our lives. Have a read of this blog post full of encouragement for us when we feel unseen.
The craft idea reminds children that God is everywhere. This is obviously different to god seeing but slightly easier for young children to comprehend I think.
We told the story about Hagar (Genesis 16) to teach children that God is everywhere. There is a simple craft to accompany the story.
Hagar was Sarah’s slave and Ishmael’s mother. When we meet her in Genesis 16 she is expecting a baby (Abraham’s son) and is showing contempt for Sarai, Abraham’s wife who has been promised a son but has taken matters into her own hands and given Hagar, her servant to Abraham as a surrogate. Sadly, things were difficult for Hagar and she ran away. But God knew where she was and spoke to her. Things changed for Hagar when God made her a promise about the son she would give birth to. She responds with the acknowledgement that ‘You are a God of seeing. Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.’
We can never be somewhere that is away from God. Wherever we go, God is there. God is everywhere!
To tell the story to young children you will need
A story bag with a doll to represent Hagar.
Begin by taking ‘Hagar’ from the bag and introducing her to the children (say hello to Hagar – children wave)
Hagar was very sad. Can you pretend to be sad?
She decided to run away. Pretend to run by tapping hands on knees or run on the spot. Get the children to join in.
Then she sat down. No other people were there.
But, God knew where Hagar was. God is everywhere. Wherever we go God is there. God sees us!
He talked to her. Hagar, where have you come from and where are you going?
‘I’m running away’, Hagar replied.
‘It will all be alright Hagar.The baby you will have will one day have a large family. Go back home’.
Hagar listened. She knew God could see where she was. She knew that God is everywhere.
‘You are the God who sees me. You are the God who looks after me.’ she said.
Now Hagar was happy again. She went back home. A little while later her baby son was born and he was called Ishmael. God saw Hagar, he cared about her.
God sees you too, and cares for you wherever you go. Wherever you go God is there.
The following is a simple craft to go with the story – ‘Wherever I go, God is there’. It is a reminder that God is everywhere. Print as many as you need. The children can add colour and people. I used some stickers for the people on the bus.
God_is_everywhere_(Bus) PDF file.
Finally, I hope you enjoy telling this story that reminds us that God is everywhere!
This is a super easy Christmas Tree picture. Use the PDF christmas tree to print either a template or straight on to green paper/card. Cut out and stick onto a dark background. Decorate the tree with sequins, buttons and ribbon and a star.
Autumn is here!
Autumn is a very colourful time of year. These crafts celebrate the bright reds, oranges and yellows. If you have a toddler then give them a selection of colours but limit them to autumnal shades. You can teach the names of the colours as you make the different crafts.
Idea One – making a wreath that celebrates autumn. These are just ideas to get you started. You may want to add tissue paper, wool, real leaves … at the end of this post is a free Pdf file of a blank wreath shape. This can be printed onto A4 card. Older children will be able to cut it out themselves. It would be a good idea to decorate first and then cut out.
To make an autumn wreath you will need a cut out wreath shape (use card), coloured paper, paper punch, paint ( I used acrylic), paint brushes, skeleton leaves ( from docrafts papermania), glue, hole punch, wool or thread.
Older children can use a paper punch to make the leaf shapes and then use the remaining paper as a stencil. On the wreath stencil leaves with autumn colours using the acrylic paint (this is not easy to wash out of clothes so you will need to provide aprons or use thick washable poster paint. Watery paint won’t work so well).
When the paint is dry add leaf shapes and finally add the skeleton leaves.
Punch a hole in the top of the wreath and add wool or thread.
If younger children are making these prepare the materials ahead of time and help with the stenciling. You may secure the stencils with some masking tape so they don’t move around and smudge.
Idea two
Falling leaves collage pictures
Again use a paper punch to make leaves and use the left over paper as a stencil. Start with stencilling, leave to dry completely and then add leaves.
Another twist on this idea is to use a large leaf shape to begin. Add autumn coloured tissue paper, cut out leaves etc to the large leaf. this would be great with younger children in particular.
free wreath Pdf
Enjoy making some Autumn crafts!
L is for lost sheep – a parable that Jesus told (Luke 15:1-7)
To tell the story to young children
Very young children will probably benefit from using smaller numbers – maybe just up to ten with the number ten sheep missing. Â Before you begin hide a sheep but unless you have a small group give the task of looking for it to a helper (who knows where to look!). If you have a very small group you could look together.
You could dress as a shepherd or take have a picture of a shepherd to show (we had a shepherd’s crook to show too). Ask the children what sort of animal a shepherd looks after and if they don’t know after one or two tries tell them – a shepherd looks after sheep. Ask them to make the sound a sheep makes. Explain that Jesus told a story about a shepherd who had 10 (100) sheep. He looked after them. At the end of the day he counted them. Have some sheep to count and count them altogether 1,2,,3,4,5,6,7,8,9…..Oh no one is missing! Where can he be? At this point pretend to look for the sheep and find him.
Explain that Jesus told the story to tell everyone that he has come to look for people – to help them to know and love God.
Pegs for legs sheep – print the sheep on to card and cut out for young children. They can decorate their sheep with yarn or cotton wool.Make sure an adult adds the legs.
Sheep collage – print on to paper and decorate with cotton wool or yarn and wax crayons.
Sheep – Pdf file – free to use
Sheep_(peg_legs) – Pdf file – free to use
Start with a template. Draw around this onto two pieces of black A4 sugar paper (construction paper) I secured it with paper clips to make things easier . This design was tricky to cut out but older children could do it with some help and patience. If you have a small group I would be tempted to do this beforehand with a craft knife.
Cover window with tissue paper. Cut this into strips beforehand. Glue the other A4 black paper to the back. Hang in a window.
Go to this post for a PDF of the template that you can print.
